Folks who make their living tending cattle are good observers. They notice little things: a buck deer that has been around forever, a robin who, year in year out, builds her nest above the shop door. They know spring is just around the corner when they see a Killdeer running up and down the road to the cattle’s feeding ground. And they know about the four-legged thieves—calves looking for a bag full of milk with four spigots.

Our 2018 calving season started two days before Christmas. The early start was not because the bulls got out before the June 1 turnout date. Or because we miscalculated our insemination schedule. First calf heifer No. 609 went into labor about noon on the 23rd. I walked her down to a calving shed.

You would have to overturn a lot of stones in Powder River County, probably a big chunk of Carter County, and some of the south end of Custer County to find a soul who does not know Lyman Amsden and his Broadus, MT., Corner Store. By ELLA MAE HOWARD